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Functional programming jargon in plain English (github.com)

557 points by mgliwka · 1534 days ago · 184 comments on HN

Article summary

The article provides a glossary of terms related to functional programming, explaining concepts such as arity, higher-order functions, closure, and monads. It aims to make learning functional programming easier by defining these terms in plain English. The article uses JavaScript examples to illustrate the concepts. The glossary covers various topics, including function composition, continuations, and functors.

Main themes

  • Functional Programming Concepts
  • Monad Understanding
  • Sequencing and Composition
  • Programming Paradigms
  • Haskell and Functional Programming

What commenters say

  • Monads are a fundamental concept in functional programming that can be difficult to understand, but are essential for handling side effects and sequencing operations. Some argue that monads are not as mysterious as they seem, and that their importance is overstated. The concept of monads is often poorly explained, leading to confusion and misconceptions. Understanding monads requires a deep understanding of functional programming principles and practice. The importance of monads lies in their ability to compose and sequence operations, making them a crucial tool for functional programming. Monads are not unique to functional programming and can be found in other programming paradigms. The concept of monads is closely tied to the idea of sequencing and composition, and is not just a Haskell-specific concept.
  • themes": [